Sure,
at Dribbleglass.com, we're all about laughter. But here we shift gears for
a moment, because frankly, there are lots of people in the world who don't
have an awful lot to smile about. We can do something about that.

Please consider this an invitation. First, some background.

Some time ago I read a book,
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, by Richard Carlson, Ph.D. The author recommends
sponsoring a child through the mail. I usually just breeze by such suggestions,
for all the popular reasons. Those reasons usually include things like, "I
can't afford this," or "Those organizations are scams." Brilliant
reasons like that.

For some reason, on that day,
I ignored the little voice in my head and called the charity mentioned in
the book. The group was Children,
Inc., based in Richmond, Virginia. Carlson gave his assurance that the
group was reputable, and that his efforts through the organization had been
extremely positive.

No
one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity
hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education
should be to unlock that treasure.

Emma
Goldman

I called and agreed to sponsor
a child. My experience with sponsoring a child has been deeply powerful and
thoroughly fulfilling. For just a few dollars a month, painlessly charged
to my credit card, I support the education of a child in a tiny town in India.
The girl's name is Poonam Dipale Wankhade.

One of the great things about
Children, Inc. is that you get updates about your child. Poonam was born 12/20/1995,
her favorite subject is science, her favorite playtime activity is hide and
go seek, her hobbies include dancing, and she lives in a one room mud house
with tile roof and a stone floor. Her father is a laborer in the grain market,
and her mother earns additional money washing dishes.

I
would encourage you to "adopt" a child. I would also encourage you
to ignore that inner voice of yours. You know the one. The cynic. The skeptic.
Consider the possibility that your inner voice is keeping you from fully expressing
your generosity. Think about how much we take for granted. Take a moment to
think about how lucky we are to have so many options in life. Others don't
have those options.

Sure, there are probably lots
of reasons to not do something like this, but maybe the secret to happiness
lies in doing the unreasonable! Take a simple action to make a difference
in the life of a child who needs your help.

There
are lots of companies that do child sponsorships, but I would recommend Children,
Inc. They are very responsible about communicating with sponsors. In addition,
their administrative costs are extraordinarily low, so a larger percentage
of donations goes directly to help the children.

You can reach Children, Inc.
by calling (800) 538-5381 or visit
their Web site here. Write for more information to P.O. Box 5381, Richmond,
VA 23220.

You might have also heard about
another company featured in "About Schmidt," the film starring Jack
Nicholson. Find out more about Childreach on
their Web site.

If you'd like to discuss this
further, or if you have any questions about this process and its many rewards,
feel free to send an e-mail to adopt@dribbleglass.com.

One more thing. If you sponsor
a child, please write and tell me about it. If you agree, we can post your
story here and hopefully inspire others to make this simple, effective contribution
to the lives of children in need.